The team behind The Witcher 3's upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, includes individuals with a deep, long-standing connection to the franchise. Paula Mejsner, the lead writer for the expansion, completed her bachelor's thesis on The Witcher 3's first expansion, Hearts of Stone, in 2017. The thesis, titled "Videogames as a way of experiencing literature: Analysis of the 'Hearts of Stone', a DLC to 'The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt'," was written years before she began working on Songs of the Past.
Mejsner explained that her academic work at the time involved studying comparative literature, and her research into Hearts of Stone was an effort to explore the literary richness of The Witcher. She specifically analyzed how the game incorporated elements from classic Polish literature, such as Stanisław Wyspiański's play The Wedding, and how the character of Gaunter O'Dimm drew inspiration from various cultural figures and archetypes.
"I wanted to analyse it, and I did this to probably prove to some of my professors that games are worthy, and they are also texts of culture," Mejsner stated. She expressed pride in her journey from academic analysis to contributing creatively to the Witcher universe, calling it a "dream come true" to be writing for Geralt. Her initial interest in The Witcher, sparked by playing the game and its expansions during her studies, ultimately led to her current role.
Songs of the Past is being developed by Fool's Theory, a studio whose staff includes many individuals who are devoted fans of The Witcher series.